The great equalizers.....

these are the things that I believe are what make life meaningful. The things that bring everyone to a common place. When we lived in London, it was an American accent....immediate connection. That sweet older man on the plane who had a red haired daughter himself...my instant surrogate Dad. Breastfeeding issues....need I say more?! I won't but whew what an equalizer in life.

In my new job back at Stanford Hospital, I'm struck (and to be honest dealing emotionally in this newbie stage of working- I found myself bawling after watching Dirty Dancing the other night), on one of the greatest equalizers in life....cancer.

I know I'm already becoming a different person for the few hours I've shared with my patients who's life has halted at this nasty yet beautiful? equalizer in life. The beauty I think comes from realizing maybe for the first time or not for a long time what really matters to you. For me its my faith in God and my family. This past Sunday at church held more meaning than it has in a long long time. And the nasty part....the fight and anger in getting to the beauty part of it all.

And what do I really know about that journey...not very much, thank God. I just feel so privileged to be able to walk alongside these individuals two times a week.

Charlie & Puppy

Whenever Charlie is asked "Do you have a dog??" he answers.... Yes, I have Puppy!

His stuffed Puppy is his closest companion. Puppy is never far from Charlie's side. Max has even learned to find Puppy and bring him to Charlie....saying CHAR CEEE....PUPPY!

Puppy helps Charlie to process thru most everything that happens, from timeouts, shots at the drs, Daddy being away, etc. What happens to Charlie in life, is acted out with Puppy shortly after.

And so when Charlie was the special person at school today (because mom was the helper in the classroom) he was allowed to bring one special thing from home. Without a doubt Puppy was the one who traveled to school with us.

The moments of Charlie 'introducing' Puppy were priceless. Charlie kept saying over and over...'Puppy is SO SO special. I love him SO much'. And then he proceded to walk around the room and encourage everyone to smell Puppy. Becasue of course Puppy just smells so good:) We did wash him in case someone did want to smell him.

It was an adorable moment. For Charlie, Puppy and me.

Put on a Grouchy face.....

I'm mean.......

put on a smiley face.

First day of preschool....last year of preschool before kindergarten. Where did the years go? Charlie was in not so rare form and had few smiles.

I said....'Just stand by the railing, I don't care what your face looks like!!'

And this is what I got....

And then this....still some crazed sweetness in this independent boy of mine.
All my boys on the first morning of school.

The boys will play.....

For Labor Day weekend, Jeff & Charlie headed camping for the second annual "Burning Man" Festival. Burning Man being some reference to roasting marshmallows....not sure of the story there....Probably too many kids and too many beers, the Dads all come up with some goofy name for the weekend.

Addendum. Sorry for the below blurry image. Apparently there is a real Burning Man Festival

Glad to know that at Jeff & Charlie's Burning Man weekend they are simply filling up this little wired man with marshmallows to burn. Not sure of the lesson these kiddos are being taught....but we'll worry about that one once they start asking questions I guess. I'll refer that one to Jeff to answer in the future.

Anyways....take a look at the photo below and can you say CRAZY and what a fun group of Dads they are!!! Rock stars! To take so many 4ish aged kids camping....

Again...check out the madhouse of kids trying to get their hands on a marshmellow. Charlie's on the far left in the brown shirt in case you can't find him:)

Charlie scoping out the campsite.

DIRT!!! Perfect shirt for this boy. Can you see his hands??? and you should have seen him when he arrived home. He had SUCH fun with no mom telling him this and that. and we all know a little dirt is actually good for us. the fiber and all, right?!

Charlie visiting with his neighbor tent mate Elizabeth. Sweet girl who spent most of the overnight sitting right there at the door of her tent. I'm surprised Charlie slowed down long enough to visit with her.

Max & I had a great 24 hours of time 'alone'. It went much to quickly and we are already looking forward to the Burning Man Festival of 2010!